Pelléas et Mélisande - Atelier d'opéra UdeM
Here's a small documentary that was made about our production of Pelléas et Mélisande. Interesting commentary from our conductor, director, our Arkel and one of our Mélisandes.
Pelléas et Mélisande footage
Here are some clips of my scenes from the recent production of Pelléas et Mélisande at Université de Montréal. Joining me onstage are Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure as Pelléas, Carol Leger as Mélisande, and the incomparable Joseph Rouleau as Arkel.
Act 1 Scene 2: A room in the castle
Six months have passed since Golaud found Mélisande in the forest. Geneviève, the mother of the princes Golaud and Pelléas, reads a letter to the aged and nearly blind King Arkel. It was sent by Golaud to his brother Pelléas. In it Golaud reveals that he has married Mélisande, although he knows no more about her than on the day they first met. Golaud fears that Arkel will be angry with him and tells Pelléas to find how he reacts to the news. If the old man is favourable then Pelléas should light a lamp from the tower facing the sea on the third day; if Golaud does not see the lamp shining, he will sail on and never return home. Arkel had planned to marry the widowed Golaud to Princess Ursule in order to put an end to "long wars and ancient hatreds", but he bows to fate and accepts Golaud's marriage to Mélisande. Pelléas enters, weeping. He has received a letter from his friend Marcellus, who is on his deathbed, and wants to travel to say goodbye to him. Arkel thinks Pelléas should wait for the return of Golaud, and also reminds Pelléas of his own father, lying sick in bed in the castle. Geneviève tells Pelléas not to forget to light the lamp for Golaud.
Act 1 Scene 3: Before the castle
Geneviève and Mélisande walk in the castle grounds. Mélisande remarks how dark the surrounding gardens and forest are. Pelléas arrives. They look out to sea and notice a large ship departing and a lighthouse shining, Mélisande foretells that it will sink. Night falls. Geneviève goes off to look after Yniold, Golaud's young son by his previous marriage. Pelléas attempts to take Melisande's hand to help her down the steep path but she refuses saying that she is holding flowers. He tells her he might have to go away tomorrow. Mélisande asks him why.
Act 1 Scene 2: A room in the castle
Six months have passed since Golaud found Mélisande in the forest. Geneviève, the mother of the princes Golaud and Pelléas, reads a letter to the aged and nearly blind King Arkel. It was sent by Golaud to his brother Pelléas. In it Golaud reveals that he has married Mélisande, although he knows no more about her than on the day they first met. Golaud fears that Arkel will be angry with him and tells Pelléas to find how he reacts to the news. If the old man is favourable then Pelléas should light a lamp from the tower facing the sea on the third day; if Golaud does not see the lamp shining, he will sail on and never return home. Arkel had planned to marry the widowed Golaud to Princess Ursule in order to put an end to "long wars and ancient hatreds", but he bows to fate and accepts Golaud's marriage to Mélisande. Pelléas enters, weeping. He has received a letter from his friend Marcellus, who is on his deathbed, and wants to travel to say goodbye to him. Arkel thinks Pelléas should wait for the return of Golaud, and also reminds Pelléas of his own father, lying sick in bed in the castle. Geneviève tells Pelléas not to forget to light the lamp for Golaud.
Act 1 Scene 3: Before the castle
Geneviève and Mélisande walk in the castle grounds. Mélisande remarks how dark the surrounding gardens and forest are. Pelléas arrives. They look out to sea and notice a large ship departing and a lighthouse shining, Mélisande foretells that it will sink. Night falls. Geneviève goes off to look after Yniold, Golaud's young son by his previous marriage. Pelléas attempts to take Melisande's hand to help her down the steep path but she refuses saying that she is holding flowers. He tells her he might have to go away tomorrow. Mélisande asks him why.
Critical acclaim
Daniel Turp recently reviewed my recent performance of Geneviève on his Opera Blog:
J’ai par ailleurs apprécié la Geneviève de Kathryn Humphries et l’impeccable diction dans son air "Voici ce qu’il écrit à son frère Pelléas."
(I also appreciated Kathryn Humphries' Genevieve and the impeccable diction in her aria "Voici ce qu’il écrit à son frère Pelléas.")
Here's a link to the review itself:
http://danielturpqc.org/bloguelyrique/?p=1521
And another review by Claude Gringas of La Presse:
(une) très digne Geneviève
(A very dignified Geneviève)
The full article:
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/arts/musique/musique-classique/201203/02/01-4501728-pelleas-une-immense-reussite.php
And from Saturday night's performance with the other cast:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Review+Opera+success+despite+odds/6248962/story.html
J’ai par ailleurs apprécié la Geneviève de Kathryn Humphries et l’impeccable diction dans son air "Voici ce qu’il écrit à son frère Pelléas."
(I also appreciated Kathryn Humphries' Genevieve and the impeccable diction in her aria "Voici ce qu’il écrit à son frère Pelléas.")
Here's a link to the review itself:
http://danielturpqc.org/bloguelyrique/?p=1521
And another review by Claude Gringas of La Presse:
(une) très digne Geneviève
(A very dignified Geneviève)
The full article:
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/arts/musique/musique-classique/201203/02/01-4501728-pelleas-une-immense-reussite.php
And from Saturday night's performance with the other cast:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Review+Opera+success+despite+odds/6248962/story.html
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